1. Engineering by Design
For more information, visit our website
at www.aoe.vt.edu or call
(Toll Free) 866-791-4898.
Chart your course with Virginia Tech’s
Master of Science Degree in Ocean Engineering
Program Overview
Ocean engineering design requires a comprehensive background in all of the
areas of study associated with ocean engineering:
• Hydrodynamics: The flow of water around a ship’s hull, into the
propeller, and over the rudder is critical to its performance.
• Structures: The structural loads on ships and submarines are among
nature’s most intense, ranging from extreme diving pressures to huge
storm waves to the weight of thousands of tons of cargo.
• Propulsion: From propellers to propulsion plants to control systems,
ocean engineering students use their backgrounds to understand and
analyze the propulsion systems of today and of the future.
• Vehicle Dynamics: An understanding of ship motions in a seaway
(called seakeeping) and ship maneuverability are important to
designing a functional and comfortable ship.
• Marine Engineering: Study of the machinery that goes into running a
ship, including main engines, electric generators, heating, and air
conditioning among many others.
How Do Online Courses
Compare to Face-to-Face Courses?
You should expect to do as much work in an online course as you would in a
face-to-face course. You may have to do more reading, writing, and
independent research than you would in a face-to-face course. In general, you
are expected to be self-motivated and to work hard.
Courses are offered using an internet-only delivery method. There will be both
synchronous (two-way, live communication between student and professor) and
asynchronous (downloadable materials and prerecorded lectures) components.
Engagement between the faculty and students is a central thrust of the
program. Each week typically feature a one-hour “real time” meeting of the
class to interact with the professor. During this session, the professor will
present interactive material, answer questions on the lecture material, and
review homework assignments.
Who Should Be Interested?
• Recent graduates with engineering or science backgrounds.
• Individuals seeking to apply mathematics, physics, or associated
scientific principles to the design, development, and operation of ocean
related systems.
• Ocean engineering professionals who want to advance in their career.
• Anyone interested in maximizing their career potential in a field of
growing demand.
Ocean Engineering
Master of Science Degree Online
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech’s Program is Designed
for Student Success
• Earn a degree from Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering ranked as
one of the Top 25 graduate schools by U.S. News and World Report.
• Engage in an exciting curriculum that provides students with the
knowledge and tools to enter the diverse field of ocean
engineering.
• Work with the best--Virginia Tech is the home of MAESTRO, today’s
most advanced computer-based method for the analysis and
optimization of ships, submarines, and offshore structures.
• Learn from leading ocean engineering faculty experts, who bring real-
world experience from the U.S. Navy, industry research, and design
arenas.
• Complete your degree entirely online, affording maximum flexibility.
• Design your course load to fit your individual needs.
• Collaborate with students all over the world to bring a dynamic
exchange to the virtual classroom.
• Excellent support for online students from Virginia Tech’s Institute for
Distance and Distributed Learning.
“The most useful (and most stressful) part of getting my degree was
taking the thesis option. I spend nearly 1 1/2 years working on the
thesis, and the experience prepared me for writing proposals and
reports more than anything I’d taken in school previously or done at
work. For anyone trying to decide whether or not to do the thesis, I
suggest going with the thesis. It provides more preparation for your
career than I ever thought possible, and even though it was hard, I’m
better off for having done it.”
--Lauren Hanyok, M.S.
“I really enjoyed my time as a student in the Ocean Engineering
program even though, as a virtual student, all my classes were online.
All my classes were live using Centra, so I was able to get nearly the
full classroom experience. I could ask questions, hear the teacher, and
see the slides as if I were in class, which I loved!”
--Lauren Hanyok, M.S.

2. For more information, visit our website at www.aoe.vt.edu or call (Toll Free) 866-791-4898.
Graduate Study Policies and Procedures Manual:
www.aoe.vt.edu/graduate/grad-advising/index-grad-
advising.html
Program Highlights
Students must complete 30 graduate credit hours, including four core courses,
which are offered on a two-year rotation, with one each in the Fall and Spring
semesters:
• AOE 4404: Applied Numerical Methods
• AOE 5074: Advanced Ship Structural Analysis
• AOE 5104: Advanced Aero and Hydrodynamics
• AOE 5334: Advanced Ship Dynamics
Up to 50% of the graded courses on the Plan of Study may be transferred from
a graduate program at another institution. A final comprehensive oral exam is
required. Specific requirements for each track can be found in the Graduate
Study Policies and Procedures Manual. Students are required to complete one
of two tracks.
Track A - Master of Science Thesis
• Students must complete 9-12 credits of approved electives.
• Students must complete 6-10 credits of AOE 5994.
• Students must complete a minimum of 12 credits of graded course work
numbered 5000 and higher.
• A maximum of 6 credits of AOE 5974 and AOE 5984 is allowed.
• A maximum of 6 credits of approved 4000 level course work is allowed.
Track B - Master of Science Non-Thesis
• Students must complete 18 credits of approved electives.
• Students must complete 6 credits of AOE 5904 or take AOE 5315-5316.
• Students must complete a minimum of 12 credits of graded course work
numbered 5000 and higher.
• A maximum of 9 credits of AOE 5974 and AOE 5984 is allowed.
• A maximum of 6 credits of approved 4000 level course work is allowed.
Program Eligibility
Admissions Requirements
• A bachelor’s degree, typically in engineering, mathematics, or physics
from an accredited institution.
• Applicants should provide evidence that shows genuine promise of
success in graduate study of a good academic record. A 3.0 GPA or
better on a 4.0 scale is required.
• Full admission to the Virginia Tech Graduate School
(www.graduateschool.vt.edu).
Application Documents
• Official transcripts sent to both the Graduate School and to the
Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department.
• Statement of Interest and Curriculum Vitae, which can be attached to
the online graduate application
(www.applyweb.com/apply/vtechg/index.html).
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores.
• Three Letters of Recommendation.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Scores for international
applicants.
• Immigration Information Form for international applicants.
Online Courses Featured in the Fall Semester
• AOE 4264: Principles of Naval Engineering
• AOE 5074: Advanced Ship Structural Analysis
• AOE 5104: Advanced Aero and Hydrodynamics
• AOE 5204: Vehicle Dynamics and Control
• AOE 5315-5316: Naval Ship Design
• AOE 5374: Rationally-Based Design of Ocean Structures
• AOE 5434G: Advanced Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics
• AOE 5774: Nonlinear Systems Theory
Online Courses Featured in the Spring Semester
• AOE 4404: Applied Numerical Methods
• AOE 5034: Mechanical and Structural Vibrations
• AOE 5064: Structural Optimization
• AOE 5144: Boundary Layer Theory and Heat Transfer
• AOE 5304: Advanced Naval Architecture
• AOE 5305: Marine Engineering
• AOE 5314: Naval Ship System Design and Effectiveness
• AOE 5334: Advanced Ship Dynamics
• AOE 5444G: Advanced Dynamics of High-Speed Craft
• AOE 6145: Computational Fluid Dynamics
• AOE 6444: Verification and Validation of Scientific Computing
• AOE 6744: Linear Control Theory
Variable Credit Courses
• AOE 5904: Project and Report
• AOE 5974: Independent Study
• AOE 5984: Special Study
• AOE 5994: Research and Thesis
1
Course titles are found in the Graduate Catalog (graduateschool.vt.edu/
graduate_catalog/).
Points of Interest
Number of Active Faculty: 24
Number of Masters and Ph.D. Students: More than 100
Unique Facilities: Stability, Open-Jet, Boundary-Layer, Low Speed, Transonic,
Supersonic, and Hypersonic Wind Tunnels; new propulsion laboratory, new
Space@VT building, new Kentland Experimental Aerial Systems Laboratory,
new Center for Renewable Energy and Aerodynamic Testing (CREATe)
Multidisciplinary Research Programs: Collaborative Center for Multidisciplinary
Sciences, Naval Engineering Program, Virginia Center for Autonomous
Systems
Naval Engineering Graduate Certificate
Naval engineering is defined as a field of study and expertise that includes all
engineering and sciences as applied in the research, development, design,
construction, operation, maintenance, and logistic support of surface and
subsurface ships, craft, aircraft, and vehicles (manned and autonomous) used
by the U.S. Navy for the Nation’s defense. It is inherently multidisciplinary
involving all departments from the College of Engineering and from other
colleges as well. This certificate program will attract and enable graduate
students throughout the College of Engineering to better prepare for this critical
profession. It is open to all graduate students in the College of Engineering.
This graduate certificate consists of AOE 53041
, AOE 53051
or 53061
, and AOE
53141
. AOE 42641
is a prerequisite for AOE 53141
. Students applying for the
certificate will submit the program of study for the certificate to the Graduate
School upon approval by one of the faculty members on the Graduate
Certificate in Naval Engineering Oversight Committee. A minimum of 3.0 GPA
on a 4.0 scale in the designated courses is required.
Aerospace and Ocean Engineering
Randolph Hall, RM 215
Virginia Tech
460 Old Turner Street
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Phone: 540-231-6612
www.aoe.vt.edu
®
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Commission on Colleges